Investigation of corneal autofluorescence in diabetic patients

PURPOSE: The investigation of corneal autofluorescence in diabetic patients. OBJECTS AND METHODS: Corneal autofluorescence was investigated with a newly-developed fluorophotometer (wave length: excitation, 290-390 nm; emission, 430-630 nm) having, fluorescence characteristics involving those of reduced pyridine nucleotides (PN) and advanced glycation endoproduct (AGE) except pentosidine and pyrraline. Twenty-eight patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and sixty-seven healthy volunteers were studied. RESULTS: The corneal autofluorescence was 1.65 times higher than that of controls (p < 0.0001). In non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, the corneal autofluorescence was not correlated significantly with various diabetic parameters in blood (r < 0.4). In controls, the corneal autofluorescence was correlated significantly with age (r = 0.438). CONCLUSION: The corneal autofluorescence has some relation with PN and AGE accumulation in the cornea.